Page 15
“Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?”
I think about Killian shoveling the path he walked up yesterday, expecting to find his dad’s mistress and finding so much more. The least I could do is get him an answer.
“Yeah, actually. Are you seeing anyone?”
Dom raises his brows. “As in dating someone?”
“Mhmm. I’m just curious.”
He shifts, rubbing the back of his neck. “Aye. Kind of. A woman in our New York office—Sally.” Sally. It’s not much to go on, but I file it away to tell Killian. “Why? Are you seeing someone?” Dom asks, and I almost laugh. For someone who is married, knocked up a teenager, and is having yet another affair, he doesn’t half sound judgmental at the mere thought of me dating.
When exactly am I supposed to meet anyone? Being a single parent doesn’t leave me with much free time.
“Nope.”
I hate how relieved he looks. He has no right.
“You know, sweetheart, things with Sally aren’t serious. And I meant everything I said years ago. I want us to get married, to be a family. All you have to do is say the word and I’ll be there for you.”
I want to scream at him: “You’re already married. You already have a family.”
My anger tastes bitter when I swallow it down. “Let me get this right, Dom: you can’t show up to see your kids, but you’ll show up for that?”
“That’s not what I … I didn’t … Christ, Scarlett. You know that’s not what I meant. Don’t be difficult.”
I draw in a deep breath, the cool air soothing the fire spreading through me. “My answer is still no. I have to go and tuck the kids in. Have a good day.”
I hang up before he can respond, and drop my phone on my lap, almost jumping out of my skin when I see Killian standing by the door. “Shit.”
He holds up his hands. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s okay. How much did you hear?”
“Enough that I’m even angrier at him.” He kicks his shoes off and straightens them by the door. “Does he ask you shit like that a lot?”
“A couple times a year, maybe.” I lift my shoulder in a half-hearted shrug, because I don’t want to show that it bothers me. “I found out about the woman he’s seeing. Her name’s Sally and she works in their New York office. It’s not a lot but might help you find her, if you still want to.”
“Thanks, Scar.” He glances up the stairs, the spot between his brows wrinkled. “I just don’t understand how anyone could know them and not want to be around them all the time.”
He barely knows them, but he gets it. How can Dom not see how much he’s missing out on? How can he not care?
“I might be biased, but me neither. They’re the best.”
“They are,” he agrees, taking a seat on the armchair facing me. “You’ve done an amazing job raising them, Scar. It’s his loss. Them, and you.”
“Yeah. But I have to wonder … Is it their loss, too? Growing up without having him around?”
Plenty of kids grow up in one-parent households, and plenty of single parents absolutely kill it, but I don’t feel like I am. My kids have all the love they could need from me, but the world doesn’t run on love, it runs on money. And that’s in short supply around here. They don’t have college funds, most of their belongings are thrifted, and they don’t do any extracurriculars. As they get older, are they going to resent that? They’re happy now, but the future keeps me up at night.
Of course, I don’t say any of that. I’ve known Killian for less than forty-eight hours and this doesn’t feel like the time to trauma dump.
Killian sighs. “He’s never been a good dad. But it feels unfair of me to say they’re better off without him when I, at least, got to grow up with him around more. You’re an incredible mom, though. I could tell within five minutes of meeting you. So, regardless of how my dad does or doesn’t show up for them, they’re going to be just fine.”
God, I hope he’s right.
7
Killian
